Rouzer, White trade barbs as Eric Cantor visits Wilmington

Monday

Feb 17, 2014 at 7:33 PM

Rouzer and White are facing off in the Republican primary for the nomination to run for the 7th Congressional District

By Adam WagnerAdam.Wagner@StarNewsOnline.com

While Woody White pointed Monday to the presence of U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in Wilmington on Monday as a sign David Rouzer is a "Washington insider," Rouzer said it's a sign he'd be ready to govern immediately upon reaching Washington.Rouzer and White are facing off in the Republican primary for the nomination to run for the 7th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre.White is positioning himself as an outsider capable of creating in change in Washington. As part of that, White said he would have asked Cantor not to come to Wilmington because his vote last week to suspend the nation's debt limit for a year represents business as usual. "Instead of raising campaign cash I would have stood on principle," White said. "... Rouzer is a Washington lobbyist and if we think for a minute that we're gonna change things by electing a Washington insider we're sorely mistaken."Before a campaign fundraiser in Forest Hills, Rouzer fired back against White's claims that his relationships with GOP leadership are a knock against him."He can talk about ‘Washington insider' all he wants," Rouzer said. "He's just envious that I have the experience to get there and do it on day one and he doesn't."White also said Cantor and other leaders are standing behind Rouzer because he would be easy for them to work with."They want him because they know he'll go along and he'll get along. Stay in the corner and he'll do what he's told to do," White said. "And that's not what this country needs."Cantor took umbrage with that assertion, pointing to Rouzer's claim that he would have voted against suspending the debt ceiling as proof the candidate would think independently of party leadership."Someone who would go about trying to take (White's) approach is someone without any solutions," Cantor said. "... David Rouzer is a conservative who has his sights set on the right opponent, which is the Democrats in Washington."The presence of the House majority leader to support a candidate in a primary race is uncommon, Cantor said, but "I feel that strongly" about Rouzer.And the candidate is already bending the majority leader's ear about topics such as flood insurance, beach nourishment and dredging."He's got my ear, he's got the leadership's ear when it comes to the issues that are affecting Coastal Carolina communities," Cantor said, adding the House will soon be working on a bill designed to make flood insurance more affordable.